Relationship between blood superoxide dismutase activity and zinc, copper, glutathione and metallothioneines concentrations in calves

RedOx processes determine the resistance of the organism to pollutants. The aim of the study was to establish a possible relationship between copper and zinc concentration in the blood of calves and the enzyme activity of superoxide dismutase. The study was conducted in 2019 on 50 calves with a weight of 201-250 kg. The samples of venous blood were taken to estimate the level of hemoglobin, glutathione, metallothioneins, as well as zinc, copper, and superoxide dismutase activity. The obtained average values of these substances concentration were compared between each other. A positive correlation between the activity of superoxide dismutase and the concentration of zinc (r = 0.64) and copper (r = 0.87) in the blood of calves has been established. It may be because both metals are obligatory components of superoxide dismutase. There is also a positive relationship between the levels of copper and zinc (r = 0.68). For the other parameters, no reliable relationship was found. The data obtained indicate a positive relationship between the activity of superoxide dismutase and metal concentrations of copper and zinc in the blood of calves. At the same time, a more significant positive relationship is established for copper.

Melatonin Enhances the Mitochondrial Functionality of Brown Adipose Tissue in Obese—Diabetic Rats

Developing novel drugs/targets remains a major effort toward controlling obesity-related type 2 diabetes (diabesity). Melatonin controls obesity and improves glucose homeostasis in rodents, mainly via the thermogenic effects of increasing the amount of brown adipose tissue (BAT) and increases in mitochondrial mass, amount of UCP1 protein, and thermogenic capacity. Importantly, mitochondria are widely known as a therapeutic target of melatonin; however, direct evidence of melatonin on the function of mitochondria from BAT and the mechanistic pathways underlying these effects remains lacking. This study investigated the effects of melatonin on mitochondrial functions in BAT of Zücker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats, which are considered a model of obesity-related type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). At five weeks of age, Zücker lean (ZL) and ZDF rats were subdivided into two groups, consisting of control and treated with oral melatonin for six weeks. Mitochondria were isolated from BAT of animals from both groups, using subcellular fractionation techniques, followed by measurement of several mitochondrial parameters, including respiratory control ratio (RCR), phosphorylation coefficient (ADP/O ratio), ATP production, level of mitochondrial nitrites, superoxide dismutase activity, and alteration in the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP). Interestingly, melatonin increased RCR in mitochondria from brown fat of both ZL and ZDF rats through the reduction of the proton leak component of respiration (state 4). In addition, melatonin improved the ADP/O ratio in obese rats and augmented ATP production in lean rats. Further, melatonin reduced mitochondrial nitrosative and oxidative status by decreasing nitrite levels and increasing superoxide dismutase activity in both groups, as well as inhibited mPTP in mitochondria isolated from brown fat. Taken together, the present data revealed that chronic oral administration of melatonin improved mitochondrial respiration in brown adipocytes, while decreasing oxidative and nitrosative stress and susceptibility of adipocytes to apoptosis in ZDF rats, suggesting a beneficial use in the treatment of diabesity. Further research regarding the molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of melatonin on diabesity is warranted.

Pretreatment with H2O2 Alleviates the Negative Impacts of NaCl Stress on Seed Germination of Tartary Buckwheat (Fagopyrum tataricum)

Soil salinization is one of the main abiotic stress factors impacting the growth of crops and the agricultural industry today. Thus, we aimed to investigate the effects of H2O2 pretreatment on seed germination in Tartary buckwheat (Fagopyrum tataricum) seeds under salt stress and to evaluate this species’ salt tolerance. Through the preliminary experiment, this study used 50 mmol L−1 NaCl solution to induce seed stress. After soaking for 12 h in different H2O2 concentrations, seeds were laid in Petri dishes with 50 mmol L−1 NaCl for seven days and the germination parameters and physiological indicators were measured to screen the optimal H2O2 pretreatment concentration and the salt tolerance index. Our results indicated that pretreatment with 5–10 mmol L−1 H2O2 was most effective in alleviating NaCl’s impacts on the seeds’ germination parameters. Furthermore, the growth and material accumulation of seedlings was promoted; catalase, superoxide dismutase activity, and proline content were enhanced; and malondialdehyde content was reduced. Principal component analysis and stepwise regression revealed six key indicators that had a significant impact on the salt tolerance characteristics of F. tataricum, namely, germination potential, shoot fresh weight, root surface area, root average diameter, catalase activity, and superoxide dismutase activity.

State of antioxidant system of rat blood plasma at the action of quartzetin and histamine in in vitro experiments

The effect of histamine and quercetin, as well as their combined effect on the activity of superoxide dismutase, catalase and the content of reduced glutathione in the blood plasma of rats was studied. It was found that the addition to the blood of quercetin at a concentration of 0.1; 0.3; 0.5; 1.0; 5.0 mM causes an increase in superoxide dismutase activity. It was found that histamine at concentrations of .01 and 0.1 μm leads to a decrease in superoxide dismutase activity by 31 and 17 %, respectively. Whereas the biogenic amine in the lowest and highest concentrations does not change the activity of superoxide dismutase in plasma. At simultaneous introduction into blood of histamine in the maximum concentration (10.0 μm) and quercetin in concentration of 0,1; 0.5; 3.0 mM normalizes the activity of superoxide dismutase. And only the combined action of histamine of this concentration and quercetin at a concentration of 5.0 mM reduces the activity of the enzyme by 21 %. Histamine at a concentration of 0.01 μm and the simultaneous action of quercetin at a concentration of 0.1; 0.5; 3.0; 5.0 mM increases the activity of superoxide dismutase, which indicates the generation of reactive oxygen species, in particular the superoxide anion radical. It was found that the addition of whole concentrations of quercetin to whole blood causes a decrease in plasma catalase activity. The combined action of quercetin and histamine causes a decrease in catalase activity. It was found that the addition to the blood of quercetin at a concentration of 0.1; 0.3; 0.5; 1.0 mM causes a decrease in the content of reduced glutathione. Quercetin at a concentration of 3.0 and 5.0 mM causes an increase in reduced glutathione by 27 and 14 %, respectively, compared to the reference plasma. Histamine at concentrations of 10.0, 1.0 and 0.01 μm leads to an increase in the amount of reduced glutathione by 24, 26 and 19 %, respectively. And at a concentration of 0.1 μm, the biogenic amine reduces the GSH content by 39 %. With simultaneous introduction into the blood of histamine at a concentration of 10.0 μm and quercetin at a concentration of 0.1; 0.5; 3.0 mM there is an increase in the content of reduced glutathione. And only at a concentration of 5.0 mM quercetin on the background of the action of histamine (10.0 μm), the content of reduced glutathione is slightly reduced. However, with the combined action of histamine at a minimum concentration (0.01 μM) and quercetin at a concentration of 0.1; 0.5; 3.0 and 5.0 mM there is a decrease in the content of reduced glutathione. After performing a dispersion analysis, it was found that the state of the antioxidant system, both enzymatic and non-enzymatic, is significantly affected by histamine. The smallest, but significant share of the effect is on the action of quercetin in the blood plasma of rats. The indirect and significant effect of the simultaneous action of histamine and quercetin on the antioxidant system of rat plasma was revealed.

Prooxidant-Antioxidant Balance in the Heart of Rats with Different Behavioral Activities under the Conditions of Light Exposition

The purpose of the article. The article shows that the effect of round-the-clock lighting causes changes in the processes of lipid peroxidation and antioxidant activity in rats, and depends on their behavioural activity. The effects of lighting on the processes of oxidative metabolism of varying degrees in the heart of resistant and unstable to emotional stress rats. Materials and methods. Investigations were carried out on 32 mature Wistar rats, divided into four groups: group 1 – animals resistant to emotional stress (intact); group 2 – intact animals unstable to emotional stress; group 3 – experimental animals resistant to emotional stress (30-day light exposure (1000 lux)); group 4 – experimental animals, unstable to emotional stress (30-day light exposure (1000 lux)). When assessing the effect of light on the state of the organism, the most important integral indicator is the behavior of animals. Therefore, during the experiment we used the observation of behavioral reactions in the test “open field”. Based on the characteristics of the behavior of animals in the “open field” rats were divided into groups resistant and unstable to emotional stress. To assess lipid peroxidation in the heart homogenate, the concentration of TBA-active products, the concentration of diene, oxidiene and triene conjugates were determined. Antioxidant processes were assessed by the increase in the concentration of TBA- active products during 1.5-hour incubation in an iron-ascorbate buffer solution, as well as by the activity of superoxide dismutase and catalase. Results and discussion. Prooxidant activity was characterized by an increase in the concentration of TBA-reactive substances in animals resistant to emotional stress. The concentration of TBA-reactive substances after 1.5-hour incubation increased in both experimental groups. Changes in the antioxidant status were illustrated by an increase in superoxide dismutase activity in the group of stress-unstable rats, whereas catalase activity increased in both experimental groups. In addition, in the group of animals resistant to emotional stress, a significant decrease in the resources of α-tocopherol and β-carotene was revealed. Conclusion. The long-term light exposure promotes the formation of end products of peroxidation in the heart of rats resistant to emotional stress and causes a decrease in antioxidant potential, regardless of behavioural activity. Antioxidant activity in the heart of emotionally stress-resistant rats is realized through both the enzyme and non-enzyme links of the antioxidant defence, while the main role in the heart of emotionally stress-resistant rats is played by superoxide dismutase activity